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Discourse on the Full Awareness of Breathing 3. Walking Meditation and the Wheel of Dharma 9

Thich Nhat Hanh · November 4, 2004 · Lower Hamlet, Plum Village, France
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The Four Basic Breaths are to focus entirely on the breath, not interfering but simply observing and dwelling in the present moment:

  1. Recognizing the breath – knowing this is an in-breath or an out-breath.
  2. Following the breath – knowing whether it is long or short, in or out, staying with it from beginning to end (following the breath).
  3. Calming the breath – allowing the breath to become long and light, creating peace and ease (calming/soothing).
  4. Enjoying the breath – breathing as a source of joy, enjoying the happiness in each breath (enjoying my in-breath, I breathe in).

When practicing more deeply, the breath becomes a bridge between body and mind:

  1. Recognizing the whole body – embracing the breath and the body in the present moment (sabbakāya).
  2. Calming the whole body – letting go, relaxing completely.
  3. Experiencing joy and ease throughout the body – deep joy and ease, like soaking in a warm bath, nourishing and healing areas of tension.
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Next Talk November 7, 2004
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Discourse on the Full Awareness of Breathing 4 - Walking Meditation and the Ten Stages